Key-retainer.



No. 846,957, PATENTED MAR. 12, 1907.

- w. H. SHAW.

KEY RETAINER.

APPLICATION FILED JUL Y5, 1906.

I. I Q Q I ENT IE,

WILLIAM HENRY SHAW, OFMURPHY, CALIFORNIA.

KEY-RETAINER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 12, 1907.

Application filed Tilly 5,1906. Serial No. 324,859.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WIL IAM HENRY SHAW, a citizen of the United States,residing at Murphy, in the county of Calaveras and State of California,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Key-Retainers and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it ap ertains to make and use the same, reference l einghad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in devicesfor reventing keys from being removed from lbcks by the use of skeletonkeys or other instruments; and it comprises a simple and eflicientdevice of this nature consisting of a casing adapted to fit over theshank portion of the key and carrying a spring-pressed pin which isadapted to be thrown into the path of the wing of the key, whereby thesame is prevented from turning.

The invention comprises various details of construction and combinationsand arrangements of parts, all of which will be more fully hereinafterdescribed and then specifically defined in the appended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure l is a sectional view through the casing, showing theinvention applied. Fig. 2 is a sectional view upon the line 2 2 ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section taken upon the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 isa perspective view of the casing, and Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, Adesignates a metallic casing having two downwardly-projecting wings B B,the lower marginal edges of which are turned to form flanges D. Aportion of said casing is contracted at A and has wings a, which arecurved and adjacent to one end thereof.

E designates a metallic block, which in the form shown in Fig. 1 of thedrawings is of a general rectangular shape and is made hollow to receivea spring F, which is adapted to hold the pin (i normally at its farthestoutward throw, said outward throw being limited by the lug N up on thepin coming into contact with one marginal end of a slot formed in saidblock. A portion of the circumference of said block is conveXed, wherebysaid block may be allowed to turn within the casing after the latter hasbeen placed upon the shank portion of the key. After the block has beeninserted within the casing edgewise and given a one-half rotary movementthe square corners of the block are adapted to rest upon said flanges ofthe casing.

In adjusting the device upon a key the casing is first placed over theshank portion of the key, as described, and the block inserted in place,and the spring-pressed pin extending forward along the side face of thewing of the key is in position to prevent the same from being turned, sothat the wing will come in alinement with the keyhole, therebypreventing the key from being removed by means or a skeleton key orother instrument. When it is desired to remove the key, thespring-pressed pin may be drawn back under the influence of the springbearing against the same, allowing the key to turn, so as to come intoalinement with the keyhole, after which it may be readily withdrawn.

While I have shown my device as being adapted for a certain shape ofshank of a key, it will be understood that the device may be varied inorder to adapt the same to square or other shaped shanks of keys, andmay be of different lengths to accommodate itself to various forms ofkeys.

What I claim is 1. A device for retaining keys in looks consisting of acasing adapted to fit over the shank portion of the key, a block held bysaid casing, and a spring-pressed pin mounted within said block andadapted to be positioned adjacent to the wing of the key, as set forth.

2. A device for preventing keys from being removed from locks,comprising a casing having wings thereon which terminate in flanges, ametallic block adapted to be supported upon said flanges, and aspring-pressed pin mounted within the block and adapted to be positionedadjacent to one side of the wing of the key, as set forth.

3. A device for preventing keys being removed i'rom locks, comprising acasing having two wings which are downwardly bent l of the springbearing against the same, as set and terminating in flanges, a hollowmetallic l forth.

block having a portion of its surface con- In testimony whereof Ihereunto affix my vexed and adapted to rest upon said flanges, signaturein the presence 01 two witnesses. and a spring-pressed pin mountedwithin said WILLIAM HENRY SHAW. block and having a lug projectingthrough a Witnesses:

slot in the block, whereby the pin may be 0. A. BRATTON,

drawn back intothe block under the tension J. H. STULL.

